As Tropical Storm Maria strengthens and bears down on the Caribbean, NASA is closely monitoring the storm and providing critical data to help emergency managers and forecasters respond effectively.

Observations

NASA's fleet of Earth-observing satellites is providing valuable information about Maria's structure and intensity. The Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) mission is measuring rainfall rates, while the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) instrument on the Aqua satellite is providing visible and infrared imagery of the storm.

Modeling

NASA's supercomputers are running numerical models to predict Maria's path and intensity. These models are helping forecasters to issue timely warnings and advisories for affected communities.

Communications

NASA is working with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to communicate information about Maria to emergency managers and the public. NASA is also providing imagery and data to news organizations to help them keep the public informed about the storm.

NASA Disasters Program

NASA's Disasters program is dedicated to providing critical data and information to help emergency managers and decision-makers respond to natural disasters. The program's goal is to save lives and reduce the impacts of disasters on communities.

Here are some of the ways that NASA's Disasters program helps to support response efforts to tropical storms:

* Providing satellite data and imagery: NASA's Earth-observing satellites provide valuable information about the structure and intensity of tropical storms. This information can help emergency managers to make decisions about evacuations and other preparations.

* Running numerical models: NASA's supercomputers run numerical models to predict the path and intensity of tropical storms. These models help forecasters to issue timely warnings and advisories for affected communities.

* Working with emergency managers: NASA works closely with emergency managers at the federal, state, and local levels to ensure that they have the data and information they need to make informed decisions.

* Educating the public: NASA provides educational resources about tropical storms to help the public understand these storms and how to stay safe.

Conclusion

NASA plays an important role in responding to tropical storms by providing critical data and information to emergency managers and decision-makers. The agency's Disasters program is dedicated to saving lives and reducing the impacts of disasters on communities.